Shirley Jean Burns

Shirley Jean Burns of Merrill, Michigan

Beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, great-great-grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend passed away peacefully with her family by her side on Saturday, May 10, 2025, at Medilodge of Midland. She was 84 years old. Shirley J. Burns was born on March 14, 1941, in Saginaw, Michigan, to the late Walter James and Blanche Lavina (Barber) Granger. She attended Saginaw and Hemlock Public Schools. Through her oldest brother, she met the love of her life, Benjamin J. Burns, Sr. They dated, fell in love, and were united in marriage on November 17, 1956; he preceded her in death on November 28, 2016. She worked in the salvage department at Vlassic Pickle for 10 years. The role of her lifetime, one she treasured and cherished above all others, was to be a loving and devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. Shirley was a longtime and faithful member of St. John XXIII Parish, Sacred Heart Catholic Church. She and her husband, Ben, bowled in various men’s and women’s leagues over the years. In her free time, Shirley enjoyed knitting, especially designing quilts and blankets for family and friends, creating beautifully hand-crafted ceramics, as well as working on many other crafts. She also enjoyed playing Bingo and taking yearly trips with her husband to Texas in their RV camper. Shirley will forever be remembered for her love of babies and being a mother to everyone, for her intellect and ability to learn quickly, for selflessly putting others before herself, and for truly living an amazing life filled with many beautiful memories and stories.

Surviving are four daughters: Beverley A. Nichols of Hemlock; Janet M. Johnson of Saginaw; Marilyn J. Burns of Merrill; Bonnie S. Cherry of Midland; two daughters-in-law, Pamela Burns of Reese; Ruth Matthews of Oakley; a son-in-law, Jody Emery of Texas; 11 grandchildren: Joshua (Jamie) Burns, Patrick (Sara) McComb, Jazmin Johnson, Travis Burns, Brittany Burns, Mackenzie (Nic) Pena, Sarah Wolfe, Adam (Rachel) Deitzel, Alan Porter, Nicolas (Anthony) Anderson, and Alexander Burns; 12 great-grandchildren with one on the way; seven great-great-grandchildren with one on the way; a sister, Barbara Elliot of Chesaning. Also surviving are many nieces, nephews, extended family, and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Benjamin J. Burns, Sr.; parents, Walter and Blanche Granger; two sons and a daughter: Benjamin J. Burns Jr., John E. Burns, Catherine “Kate” Emery; an infant great-granddaughter; four brothers and one sister: William, Richard, Cameron, and Edward Granger, and Nancy Mau.

A funeral liturgy will take place at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, May 19, 2025, at St. John XXIII Parish, St. Mary Catholic Church, 151 St. Mary’s Drive, Hemlock, MI 48626. Rev. Fr. Michael F. Steltenkamp, S.J. will officiate. Rite of Committal will follow at Oakwood Memorial Mausoleum. Friends are welcome to visit with the family at the church on Monday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of Mass. In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy may wish to consider memorials to the Alzheimer’s Association. Please share your thoughts and memories with the family at the church or through www.casefuneralhome.com.